This is the heartbreaking moment a snowboarder is caught in an avalanche on a mountain in Utah but manages to stay on top of the falling snow and survive unharmed.
Blake Nielson was driving through Big Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City when the avalanche began Sunday and captured the entire incident with a camera mounted on the front of his helmet.
The film showed how the ground suddenly gave way to Nielson, who then struggled to stay afloat by “swimming” in the moving snow. He finally managed to escape from the chute after descending about 300 feet.
Nielson said in a Utah Avalanche Center report that he believed the avalanche was caused by a gust of wind that broke away a large patch of snow he was driving over.
Blake Nielson tries to regain control when he is caught in an avalanche
Snowboarder Blake Nielson survived the avalanche in Utah on Sunday
The clip shows Nielson beginning his descent into the snow bowl, slowly working his way through a few turns.
After a final turn, the snow beneath his board suddenly began to break up and slide in lanes around him.
“Logan, I’m sliding, Logan, I’m sliding!” could be heard shouting frantically into his radio as the snow began to close in around him.
After sliding rapidly through the avalanche for a few moments, he managed to stay on top of the snow stream and inform his partner by shouting, “I’m staying up, but I’m sliding.”
Nielson tries to gain control by moving his arms in a “swimming motion”.
Nielson said he slid about 300 feet before he was able to stop
Nielson was eventually able to regain control and avoid sliding with the avalanche
Nielson was eventually able to stop, but he said the avalanche went about 400 feet down the mountain before it finally stopped.
“I was able to keep most of my body above the snow and radio my buddy that I was sliding through the debris,” he said in his Utah Avalanche Center report.
“An isolated sheet of wind broke loose below and above me, knocking me off my feet and taking me for a ride,” he added.
Nielson took these photos of the aftermath of the avalanche
Nielson said the snow was blown loose by strong gusts
Looking for the mountains where Nielson was caught in the avalanche
Nielson said he and his partner checked the mountain extensively to see if the snow was stable enough for snowboarding or not.
He noted that the snow looked stable during their check, but they were afraid of the wind coming over the mountain.
“Respect the wind. Even a small “manageable” wind sock can break and take you far in steep terrain with long turns,” he warns in his report.
Kessler Peak near Salt Lake City, where Nielson was caught in an avalanche
The Utah Avalanche Center said the last recorded avalanche in the state was in 2021.
Two skiers were also swept away by an avalanche at another location near Salt Lake City on Sunday, according to the New York Post. None of these athletes were injured in the incident.
But on Saturday in Colorado, two snowmobiles near Winter Park got stuck in an avalanche and died after being trapped under snow.
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
